Means for identifying depositors of spurious coins



-29,1942. w. F. BERNART. JR v 2,306,513

MEANS FOR IDENTIFYING DEPOSITORS OE SPURIOUS COINS Filed Feb. 1, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l |NVENTOR /l ////4/77 F6 e/vIQ/Z JP.

ATTORNEY Deco W. F. BERNART. JR

MEANS FOR IDENTIFYING DEPOSITORS SPURIOUS COINS I Filed Feb. 1, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 h M/w INVENTOR ATTORNEY Dec. 29, 1 942. w BERNART JR 2,30%,518

MEANS FOR IDENTIFYING DEPOSITORS OF SPURIOUS COINS "Filed Feb. 1, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 5 www l emwzfl F4. 5.. a B Y ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 29, 1942 MEANS FOR IDENTIFYING DEPOSITORS OF SPURIOUS COINS William F. Bernart, Jr., New Canaan, Com, assignor to Pitney-Bowes Postage Meter Company, Stamford, Conn., a corporation of Dela- Application February 1, 1940, Serial No. 316,733

7 Claims. (01. 19461) --ery. The passer of the spurious coin is then This invention relates to coin operated machines and more particularly to a means for identifying the depositors of spurious coins.-

To prevent the acceptance of spurious coins in coin operated machines, it is the present practice to provide, coin detectors which reject or return such spurious coins to the operator. Coin detectors however, are always vulnerable to slugs which may be developed by the so called professional slugger.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide means for identifying the depositor of a slug by printing or otherwise applying identical identifying characters on the slug and on any article of service rendered.

For example, there are coin operated machines now in use which sell insurance policies, others which print postage on mail, and many other types of service rendering or vending machines. In such machines as the insurance policy and postage printing machines, a service is rendered which ties the service in with the person receiving same, that is, there is a record of the person receiving the service. It is to this class of service rendering machines therefore, that the invention is particularly adapted because the depositor is directly identified with the service in some way.

The type of machine which has been selected for illustration is a coin operated insurance policy machine, and upon depositing a coin of predetermined value in such machine a policy will be issued. Through the name and address of the insured, which is written in space provided therefor on the policy, a carbon duplicate'of which remains in the machine, the identity of the insured is established.

If a coin detector were the only means provided in the machine for preventing the acceptance of slugs, and a slug was found which would pass through the detector, there would be no way of identifying the coin with the person who deposited same.

By means of this invention, identical identifying characters are applied to the coin and to traced through the return address or the mail- 4 ing address.

Having presented some practical examples for the utility of the invention, the particular device used to illustrate the invention will now be described and claimed, it being understood that various changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective viewrshowing a coin operated insurance policy machine, and is drawn to a reduced scale;

Fig. 2 is a front vertical elevational view with the front wall of the casing removed, and showing parts in section;

Fig. 3 'is a side vertical elevational view with the left side wall removed, and showing parts in section; V

Fig. 4 is a plan view with the upper wall or cover removed, and showing parts in section;

' Fig. 5 is a detail view of an insurance policy issued by the machine, also showing an identifying character in the form of a serial number thereon; and

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of a coin having a serial number stamped thereon which corresponds with the serial number on the insurance policy.

Referring to Fig. 1,. a casing III- envelopes the entire machine structure and has provided tl1ere in a coin slot II, a policyissuing slot l2, a coin drawer I3 and a window l4. Said window is accessible to the customer to write his name and able carbon surfacing beneath the upper web the policy, also to the duplicate record policy remaining in the machine which contains the name and address of the-policy holder. Tracing of the policy holder who has deposited a slug now becomes a simple matter.

In a similar manner, identical identifying characters may be printed upon a coin and a letter in a coin operated mailing machine, and a letter, having a character corresponding with that on a spurious coin, is withheld from delivto provide a duplicate record of any matter written or printed thereon. Said webs l5 and I6 are carried by a supply spool H, which is suitably mounted upon a shaft l8, and the free 'ends thereof are passed over the surface of'a table I9, with a portion of the upper surface of web l5 exposed beneath the window It. The

leading edge of the upper web l5 terminates at a cutting member 2|, while the lower web is adapted to be wound upon a receivingspool 22. Said spool 22 is also suitablymounted upon a shaft 23 and is adapted to be'driven by means of a belt 24 carried by pulleys 25 and 26, in a manner to be later described.

A serial number printing device is provided to print a serial number upon each policy issued and comprises a series of numeral type wheels 21, which are carried by a shaft 28 in a drum structure 29. Said drum 29 is fixed to a main drive shaft 3|, which shaft is suitably supported within a frame structure of the casing and is adapted to be rotated by a crank 32.

By means of a coin chute 33, a coin C, upon being inserted in the slot passes through the chute 33 to the position indicated at CI, Fig. 3, then in a manner which will be later described, the coin will be moved to the position of C2, where it will remain temporarily before being ejected into the coin drawer l3.

When the coin is in said latter position, C2, it is adapted to have a serial number printed thereon, which serial number will be identical to that printed on the policy purchased. The means for printing said serial number comprises a series of numeral type wheels 35, which are carried by a shaft 33 mounted within a drum 31. Said drum is carried by a shaft 38, suitably supported in a bearing 39, and is geared to the drive shaft 3| by means of a pair of bevel gears 4|--4|.

It will be noted that when the coin is in the position of Cl, Fig. 3, it is contained within a pocket 42, formed in a disc 43. Said disc 43 is fixed to the drive shaft 3|, and, when rotated with the shaft, the rearward edge of the pocket will engage the coin and force same to the position of Fig. 2. When the coin is in said latter position, the outer edge of the disc 43 will pass freely over the edge of the coin, while the coin normally bears against a projecting end 44 of a lever 45. Said lever 45 is pivotally mounted upon a stud 45 and has its end 44 normally urged in the direction of the coin by means of a spring 41. When in said latter position the coin is directly in the path of the serial number printing wheels 35, and when engaged by said printing wheels, the frictional engagement thereof will cause the coin to move past the end 44 of the lever 45 while printing is effected. Upon passing said end 44, the coin will drop into the coin drawer l3. A yieldable pressure plate 40 may also be provided to urge the coin against the type wheels.

Means is provided to prevent the operation of the machine until a coin is present. The coin upon reaching the position of CI, Fig, 3, will rest upon the end of an arm 48, which arm is fixed to a shaft 49, suitably supported in bearings |5|. Another arm 52, fixed to said shaft 43, has a hook shaped end 53 which projects into the path of hooked shaped end 54 of a disc 55. Said disc 55 is fixed to the drive shaft 3|.

When a coin is in the position of CI, and the crank is rotated, the end of the pocket 42, upon engaging said coin, will cause the arm 48 to be rocked downwardly, thereby rotating the shaft 45 and the arm 52 to move the hooked end 53 of arm 52 out of the path of the hooked end 54 of the disc 55. The said hooked end 53 is normally urged into the path of the hooked end 54 of disc 55 by means of a spring 55.

An anti-reverse ratchet 51 is also fixed to the shaft 3| and has a pawl 58 engaged therewith to provide rotation of the shaft 3| in one direction only.

Means is also provided for advancing the type wheels 21 and 35, one digit during each rotation of the drive shaft 3|. To advance the type wheels 21., a tooth-shaped member BI is provided, as shown in Fig. 3, in the path of the units type wheel in such manner that, as the drum is rotated to move the type wheels past the tooth 6|, the engagement of the units type wheel therewith will effect its rotation a distance equal to one digit. The usual Geneva drive is provided as indicated at 52 to effect a transfer from the units to the tens wheel, and from the tens to the hundreds wheel. In a like manner, the type wheels 35 are moved ahead one digit when the units wheel thereof engages a toothed-member 53, shown in Figs. 2 and 4. A Geneva 'drive 54 is also provided for the transfer operation.

Ink rolls are provided as shown at 55 and 55 for the inking of the type wheels '21 and 35 respectively.

The cutting member 2| comprises a'stationary knife 51, Fig. 3, suitably mounted on a bracket 58, and within said knife 51 there isrotatably mounted a rotary cutting knife 59. Fixed to one end of the rotary cutting knife 59 is an arm 1| which is normally urged, by means of a spring 10, into the path of a lug 12 projecting sidewardly from the drum 29. As aforesaid, the leading edge of the upper web l5 terminates at the cutting position. During a cycle of operation said leading edge passes through a slot 13 in the stationary member 61, then passes through a slot 14 in the rotary member 69, and finally passes outwardly through another slot 15 in the stationary member 51.

The feeding of the web i5 through the cutter member and the winding of the web l6 upon the receiving spool 22 is accomplished by means of a segment flange 15 on the printing drum 29, which is adapted'to engage the upper web I5 and effect a feeding action in cooperation with a pressure roller 11, which extends through a slot 18, Fig. 3, and engages the lower surface of the web l6. Said pressure roller forms a part of the pulley 25 and is carried on a shaft 19, which is suitably supported by the machine frame. Rotation of the pressure roller 1.1 will consequently rotate the pulley 25 and drive the receiving spool through the belt 24.

In the operation of the device, the coin is first passed into the coin slot II and is guided to the position shown in CI, Fig. 3 by means of the coin chute 33. The operator now operates the crank 32 to rotate the shaft 3| through one complete revolution. During the first part of the revolution, the coin is engaged by the rearward end of the pocket 42 and moves to the position of C2. Also, during the beginning of the revolution of movement, the arm 48 is depressed to remove the hooked end 53 from the path of the hooked end 54 of disc 55. The printing drums 29 and 31 are each rotated by the drive to move type wheels 21 into engagement with the upper web portion l5, and the type wheels 35 into engagement with the coins to effect the printing of a like serial number upon each, the web and the coin. During said printing operation the webs I5 and iii are advanced when impinged between the flanged portion 15 and pressure roller 11, the receiving spool 22 also being driven by the pressure roller 11 through belt 24 to take up the web [5. While the lower web portion [5 is wound up upon said receiving spool, the upper web I5 is advanced between the blades of the cutting member 2|, and at the end of the revolution of the shaft 3|, a lug 12 will engage arm 1| to rock the rotary cutter member 14 and cut the web. The cut portion of the web is represented in Fig. 5 as'the policy which is issued to the customer and has a serial number printed thereon which agrees with the serial number printed upon the coin shown in Fig. 6. Owing to the carbon undersurface of the web I5, the said serial number is also printed upon the lower web portion l6, which is, a duplicate of the policy receipt shown at l5, Fig. 5.

While the above description is directly related to an insurance policy machine it is obvious that the same system may be employed in applying serial numbers or the like to letters or to tape in a machine such as that illustrated in application Serial Number 314,038, or in any similar service rendering machine.

Having described the invention, what is claimed 1. In a coin operated machine, service rendering means, a coin chute to receive a coin having a value agreeing with the service which is adapted to be rendered and having an opening to expose one face of the coin, a printing member, means to position the coin in'said coin chute in correct relation to the printing member for the printing of a character on the exposed face thereof, and a second printing'member associated with the service rendering means and having a print ing element for the printing of a character entical to that of the first named character upon an article of service representing the value of the coin deposited in the coin chute.

2. In a coin operated machine, service rendering means, a coin chute to receive a coin hav a value agreeing with the service which is adapted to be. rendered and having an opening to expose one face of the coin, a printing member, means to position the coin in said coin chute in correct relation to the printing member for the printsecond printing member associated with the service rendering means and having a printing element for the printing of a character identical to that of the first named character upon an article of service representing the value of the coin deposited in the coin chute, and means to automatically change the character for each succeeding printing operation.

3. In a coin operated machine, service rendering means, a coin chute to receive a coin having a value agreeing with the service which is adapted to be rendered and having an opening to expose one face of the coin, a printing member includin serial numbering type wheels, means to position the coin in said coin chute in correct relation to the printing member for the printing of a serial number on the exposed face thereof, a second printing member associated with the service renwheels for the printing of a serial number identical to that of the first named serial number upon an article of service representing the value of the 'coin deposited in the coin chute, and means to advance the serial number type wheels one digit for each succeeding printing operation.

4. In a coin operated service rendering machine, wherein a part of the service rendered has identifying matter thereon which identifies the identifying matter thereon which identifies the person receiving the service, coin receiving means, and printing devices arranged to print identical identifying data upon the coin deposited in the coin receiving means and upon some por-- tion of the service provided by the machine commensuratewith the coin value, whereby the coin deposited is also adapted to be identified with the person receiving the service.

6. A coin operated machine having saleable negotiable matter in duplicate therein, means for retaining a signed duplicate of each piece of matter within the machine after each sale to identify the purchaser, coin receiving means, and

marking devices to mark identical identifying ing of a character on the exposed face thereof, a

ciated with the coin inserted for the service which data on the matter and duplicate and on the coin deposited by the purchaser of said matter before the sale is completed, whereby the purchaser is adapted to be identified with the coin deposited.

7. In a coin operated machine, coin receiving means, means for rendering service by said machine to the value of a coin deposited in the coin receiving means, said service rendered having identifying matter thereon which identifies the person receiving the service; a printing device concealed within the machine and associated with the service to be rendered, a second printing device concealed within the machine and assois to be rendered, and drive means including connections with both printing devices and service rendering means to effect a cycle of operation,

- whereby printing of identifying data is performed dering means and having serial numbering type on both the coin and service which is to be rendered to provide means for identifying the coins deposited with the persons receiving the service.

WILLIAM F. BERNART. Jr. 

